EU foreign policy chief calls for sanctions on israeli ministers

Two israeli cabinet members are National Security Minister Itaman Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The proposal, which is going to be put at the table on Thursday at the foreign affairs meeting in Brussel, requires consensus of all 27 members to be accepted. However, it seems unlikely as Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary have so far been “highly critical” of the requirements of the sanctions against the occupation regime.

Far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, key allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have made recent anti-Palestinian statements that have sparked widespread outrage. Both politicians support illegal settlement expansion in occupied territories, as defined by the highest UN court.

Ben-Gvir has called for halting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, while Smotrich suggested restricting aid, even if it means risking the lives of 2 million people in Gaza. He described his stance as morally justifiable.

According to Borrell's proposal, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir could face sanctions for inciting hatred and violating human rights. This would involve freezing their EU assets and prohibiting them from entering the EU.

On Thursday, Brussels will host an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers to address the EU's relations with Türkiye, the overall situation in the Middle East, the attacks in Gaza and Palestine, and, as expected, sanctions against representatives of the occupying regime. (ILKHA)